- Thomas Dowson
- Last Checked and/or Updated 25 April 2025
- Italy Travel Tips & Ideas
Like many towns in Puglia, Ginosa owes its fascination to its geographical location as much as its history. Both the physical and historical aspects of the town are immediately visible. In fact the two are intertwined, and have been for centuries.
Many, many thousands of years ago a u-shaped bend in a river, as it meanders its way towards the Gulf of Taranto (about 20km away), created a spur of land that has obviously been very attractive to successive inhabitants of Ginosa. Over the centuries people have built on this spur and in the horseshoe-shaped ravine giving Ginosa its distinctive character today. These five historical landmarks are a great way to discover that character.
Peucetian Funerary Structure
Perhaps not as prominent as some of the other landmarks, but significant nonetheless. On the edge of the square in front of the town hall are the oldest remains of human habitation on view in Ginosa. Just below street level and underneath a row of holm oak trees is a series of Peucetian tombs, left exposed and visible through glass covers.
Little is known about the Peucetians. They are one of three Iapygian populations that occupied what is Puglia today; the other two being the Daunians and Messapians. Some archaeologists have suggested that the Iapygians are descendants of the Illyrians, who crossed the Adriatic Sea and settled in southern Italy during the 9th century BC.
Whatever their origins, artefacts excavated by archaeologists show they were in close contact with the nearby Greek colonies, such as Metaponto and Taranto. It was the Roman defeat of these Greek colonies in southern Italy in the Phyrric War (280 to 275 BC) that lead to the incorporation of the region into the Roman Republic.
During the construction of the square in front of the Ginosa’s town hall, builders came across a Peucetian funerary complex. The necropolis was excavated by archaeologists and left open, but covered with protect glass structures to enable people to see the different types of tombs. One limestone sarcophagus stands above ground on the square; a few others can be seen in their original place within the tombs.
Troglodyte Village - Gravina di Rivolta
Along the sides of the ravine as it snakes its way around the town are the ruins of rock-cut settlements so distinctive of Ginosa. These are the settlements of people who cut their houses and churches into the rock. The best place to visit these dwellings is on the eastern side of the town, in the Rione di Rivolta.
In this part of southern Italy, the relatively flat landscape is cut through with a number of deep canyons created by rivers flowing into the Gulf of Taranto; hence the name Terre delle Gravine. Archaeological evidence shows that during the ‘Roman period’ people lived on the fertile plains. The Roman villas that have been excavated suggest a prosperous local economy based on agriculture.
Towards the end of the 5th century AD when the Roman Empire came under attack from the Goths and other Germanic tribes attacking Rome, the open plains were no longer safe. And it was then that people sought refuge in the relatively safer ravines. The soft, limestone bedrock made it easy to cut into the sides of the ravines to create places to live that were easier to protect against the Goths to begin with, but also the Saracens later.
Over the turbulent centuries of the Middle Ages that followed the fall of the Western Roman Empire fully developed communities emerged in these ravines. These early Medieval troglodytes ‘built’ surprisingly complex villages simply by cutting into the rock at different levels. Besides creating domestic spaces – Casa Grotto (cave house), they also cut churches into the sides of the ravines. They also cut channels and cisterns into the rock to supply water.
The rock cut villages in the ravines around Ginosa were still inhabited up until the 20th century. Today the Casa Grottos and rock cut churches with their Byzantine frescoes are a popular tourist attraction, particularly Villagio Rivolta. Here visitors can see the typical structure of the casa grotto, where rooms at the front were communal and where cooking would have taken place, while animals were kept in the room at the rear – for safety. In front of the houses you can see the network of human-made cisterns, basins and channels that caught and stored rain water. What today seems like a random collection of ruined artificial caves is in fact a very elaborate village made up of 66 individual houses, constructed over five levels one on top of the other connected by stairs.
Norman Castle
One of Ginosa’s most striking landmarks, perhaps the most prominent historical site, is the Norman Castle. Built towards the end of the land spur in what is the northern end of the historical centre, the castle has commanding views over both Rioni di Casale and Rioni di Rivolta, and on to the surrounding plains beyond the ravine.
The castle is the handiwork of Robert Guiscard, born in Normandy who was a significant figure in the Norman conquest of southern Italy during the 11th and 12th centuries. Guiscard became the Count of Apulia and Calabria between 1057 and 1059, and then Duke of Apulia and Calabria as well as Duke of Sicily between 1059 and 1085. He had the Ginosa castle built in 1080. A fortress, clearly occupying the most strategic spot being almost entirely surrounded by the ravine, built to protect the town against Saracen raids. At this time Puglia and much of southern Italy was being fought over between the Normans and the Byzantines.
Today the castle looks more like a large palazzo than a Norman castle. This is because the distinctive Norman features, crenellated towers and a drawbridge, were removed or altered in the 16th century when the castle became the baronial seat of the Doria family. For example, the drawbridge was replaced by an arched bridge that links the castle’s entrance to Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Walk up to the castle entrance to see the superb views over the ravines from the bridge. Then take the steps down to the Villagio Rivolta.
Chiesa Madre del Rosario
Below the castle and in amongst the buildings right on the edge of Rione di Casale you can not miss an eye-catching gabled façade and bell tower. These are the noticeable features of 16th century church, Chiesa Madre. A church that for centuries has had a special place in the religious traditions and history of Ginosa.
Do not let the seemingly out of the way location of Chiesa Madre lead you to think this is an insignificant church. Everything about this sacred space is intimately linked to the changing historical fortunes and allegiances of Ginosa. Construction of the church began towards the end of the 15th century to appease French soldiers. At the time, Ginosa was caught up in the Italian Wars – a series of conflicts that involved most of the major states of western Europe fight for territory and power.
Giambattista Doria not only enlisted French architects to build the church, he also had it dedicated to a prominent French Saint, Martin of Tours. Take a closer look at the fading painting on the front façade beneath the rose window. It is thought to represent the legend of Martin’s Cloak. Martin is depicted on horseback cutting his cloak in two, one half of which he gave to the poor, nude beggar he is said to have encountered at the gates of Amiens.
Saint Martin’s and the French soldiers’ hold over the church here was not to last long. In one of the five chapels, in an ornate wooden display case, is an 18th century statue of Mary holding Jesus and a rosary. In 1756 the town chose to re-dedicate the church to Mary, Madonna del Rosario.
Since its construction in the early 16th century, the church has witnessed a number of changes. In the 17th century, like many churches in Italy it was restored in a Baroque style. All that remains of this period are the painted walls and ceiling at the back of the right-hand aisle. The rest of aisle, the left-hand aisle, the nave and apse is simply white. It does make for a very bright interior.
Chiesa Madre was in fact built on top of an earlier church. The edge of the apse of that earlier church, built in about 1000 AD, can be seen through a glass panel in the floor of the apse.
Clock Tower
In the heart of the centro storico is Piazza Orologio, named after the somewhat simple but conspicuous nonetheless clock tower. The tower and surrounding palazzos are a reminder of the glory days of Neoclassicism.
Piazza Orologio is a relatively new addition to the townscape; a testament to more recent architectural developments in Ginosa. Until the beginning of the 1800s this is where the town’s prison, tax and municipal offices stood. These were destroyed and in 1820 the clock tower was erected. Then the square was appropriately named Piazza Nuovo (New Square).
During the 19th century the surrounding blocks were also cleared, and the older buildings replaced with elegant, Neoclassical townhouses. On the façade of one of these, Palazzo Strada, the 19th century mosaic medallions are very well preserved. The square looks good throughout the day, but it is particularly picturesque at night.
Restaurant Recommendation: make sure you visit the Piazza Orologio at lunchtime. For then you will be able to have lunch at Alibi’s, and sample the local dishes and a glass of Primitivo. The restaurant is on the north east corner of the square. Or, come back in the evening for a meal. On a clear night, the piazza at night is quite a sight too.
Guided Walking Tour of Ginosa
Enjoy a 2 to 2.5-hour guided walking tour of Ginosa, taking in all the main sights mentioned above as well as the rock-cut churches with their well preserved frescoes. And you get a chance to see a traditional workshop and taste baked foods at a bakery that still uses a wood-fired oven.
Interactive Map of Historical Landmarks in Ginosa
Where to Stay in Ginosa: Albergo Diffuso Il Casale
During my time in Ginosa, I stayed in the Albergo Diffuso Il Casale; a delightful and quirky bed and breakfast establishment overlooking the Rione di Casale. The property has a number of different rooms available for visitors. Most of these are traditional rooms in an old house, but one is a suite transformed from a rock-cut dwelling. The various features have been left intact, giving the set of rooms a very distinctive feel. Each morning I would go out for a short walk along the walkway above the ravine. In my absence the table was set with a wonderful breakfast that truly set me up for the day. Each room had its individual style, but I greatly appreciated the unusual eccentric collection of antique furniture use to decorate ‘my cave’. Although I stayed in January, I was surprised at how warm the room was. The bed was just right for me.Â
Albergo Diffuso Il Casale
Medieval inhabitants of Ginosa (Terra delle Gravine Natural Park, Puglia) cut into the rocky sides of the ravine to create simple domestic units, workshops and churches. Although no longer occupied, some of these have been sensitively transformed into modern dwellings and even B&B accommodation. One of these is Albergo Diffuso Il Casale, which we can not recommend highly enough. The various rooms each had their own quirky style, and the breakfasts were enough to set you up for a day of exploring.
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Ginosa
Tucked away in the ravines of Terra delle Gravine Natural Park in Apulia is the small town of Ginosa. Situated on a spur of land created by a u-shaped bend in the river, the area has been occupied since prehistory – the remains an ancient tomb still stand in the town square. Besides the imposing castello, built in the 11th century to protect the area from Saracen raids, the town is know for its medieval, rock-cut village – complete with churches and surviving frescoes.
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